title: Clinical core symptoms of posterior spinal artery ischemia.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Ischemia in the distribution of the posterior spinal artery is rare.
  
  
  METHODS
  Between 2004 and 2008 we observed 4 patients with posterior spinal artery ischemia (PSAI).
  
  
  RESULTS
  All patients had the expected loss of posterior column function but also suffered from motor deficits which were severe, and the leading symptom in 2 patients. Severe pain, bowel and bladder dysfunction were other concomitant symptoms. In 3 of 4 patients, a follow-up spinal MRI was needed to show the cord infarct together with vertebral body ischemia in 2 patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  An acute onset of posterior column dysfunction with a variable degree of motor deficit and dorsalgia suggests PSAI.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Kaiser Franz Josef Hospital, Vienna, Austria. Walter.Struhal@akh.linz.at
authors.forename: Walter
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Struhal
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Seifert-Held
authors.forename: Heinz
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Lahrmann
authors.forename: Franz
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Fazekas
authors.forename: Wolfgang
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Grisold
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001259:Ataxia / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006987:Hypesthesia / Q000209:etiology; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000473:pathology*; D020760:Spinal Cord Ischemia / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology*; D014711:Vertebral Artery